The British Swallowtail is confined to the Norfolk Broads, where salinisation could be a problem. Credit: Mel Collins

Conservation of the Swallowtail in Britain

As a subspecies of the common and widespread Papilio machaon, the British Swallowtail is not classified as under threat in the IUCN Red List. However, in the UK the subspecies P.m. britannicus is a near threatened butterfly.

The British Swallowtail, Papilio machaon britannicus, is a rare subspecies now confined to the Norfolk Broads, an extensive area of wetlands in East Anglia. This is the UK’s largest and most spectacular butterfly, with a wingspan of 9cm. For a report on a research conference recently organised by SBBT see here. The conference was reported in the Guardian newspaper here.

Found mainly in nature reserves that have benefited from reed-cutting and scrub clearance, the species was once more widely distributed in the fens of Norfolk, Suffolk and Cambridgeshire. Repeated attempts to reintroduce the British Swallowtail to Wicken Fen have failed. An unpublished ten year Action Plan was completed in 1995 by L.K. Barnett and M.S. Warren and published by Butterfly Conservation.

Reports in 2010 suggested that programmes of habitat management by the partners involved in the action plan resulted in increased numbers of the butterfly. Conservation programmes continue in Norfolk, mainly through the work of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust and the RSPB.

Although the butterfly appears to be secure in nature reserves in the short to medium term, these fenlands are potentially at risk from sea-level rise and salinisation which would destroy the foodplant Milk Parsley, Peucedanum palustre. The Trust is keen to explore ways in which the butterfly could be introduced to new, more secure sites across East Anglia and held a workshop at Wheatfen Reserve on 27 June 2018 to discuss the matter. See the report here.

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Two Master’s students, Susie Hills and Hamish Lillywhite are starting work on the conditions needed by the British Swallowtail and its foodplant, Milk-parsley, in East Anglia’s fens. Their projects are a direct result of our 2017 workshop, the first step in a partnership between SBBT and the University of East Anglia’s School of Biological Sciences.

John Parnell, a retired entomologist who developed a passion for the magnificent Homerus Swallowtail when he worked as a lecturer in Jamaica, has agreed to take up an honorary position spearheading SBBT’s work on the species. John joins the Trust as our vital conservation work to rescue the species continues.

SBBT is delighted to announce World Swallowtail Day, taking place this year on Sunday 9th June. All are welcome to register their local event or come to Wheatfen Reserve in Norfolk for the global launch. Reserves, zoos, butterfly houses and botanical gardens worldwide will join hands to celebrate swallowtails and birdwings and help us to promote conservation projects.

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OUR APPEAL

Swallowtails and birdwings are beautiful and graceful butterflies – who wouldn’t love to see them dancing in the sunlight or sipping nectar from wildflowers? But many species are under threat from agriculture, forestry and climate change. We have ideas, enthusiasm and a vision for the future. Will you help us to achieve our goals?

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Financial contributions are welcome and will be treasured. We also need your ideas, new information, suggestions and encouragement!